Commission and Contracts

Information and guidance regarding contract terms and submitting commission claims to the University of Edinburgh.

Commission

Full commission

Representatives may only claim full commission for students they have introduced, supported and counselled throughout the entire application cycle towards securing an offer and registered place of study at the University of Edinburgh. Such students are considered to be ‘referred students’.

Partial commission

For the September 2026 intake onwards, we will offer a partial commission for agents who have counselled students after they have individual submitted their application to the University of Edinburgh.  

This may include:

  • Applicants who have submitted an application but have yet to receive an offer and the agent has been asked to support with following up on admission processes.
  • Applicants who have already received an offer to study at the University and the agent has been asked to support with the process of accommodation and visa support.

What programmes are ineligible for commission?

As per our agreement, the following programmes are ineligible for commission:

  • Distance learning programmes
  • Pre-sessional English language programmes
  • MBChB (Undergraduate Medicine)
  • All Master of Clinical Dentistry programmes
  • All programmes delivered in collaboration with other institutions *
  • Courses for short-term visitors

*Note that we will offer partial commission for any agent who has supported our applicants onto the International Medical University (IMU), Malaysia, partnership programme.

If you are unsure whether a programme is commissionable, please contact us with the relevant details. 

Verifying ‘Referred Students’

The University will primarily identify referred students from the information submitted by the student or agent at the time of application. This will be in addition to the information provided by the Representative at the time of the commission claim. Depending on their intended level of study, a ‘referred student’ must either:

  • Complete, at the time of submitting an undergraduate application via UCAS, the University of Edinburgh Data Protection form:

    University of Edinburgh Data Protection Form

  • Agree, at the time of application, to the online Data Protection statement which appears in EUCLID (the University’s online application system) and identify their Representative from the list provided (PG Students)

Timeline for Commission Claims

Representatives must submit their list of successful and registered students who they have referred to the University of Edinburgh no later than the deadline provided via email from the University of Edinburgh.

Claims must be completed using the Commission Claims Template provided and submitted by email to:

representatives@ed.ac.uk 

Please note that claims submitted in any other format, or after this date cannot be considered.

The International Recruitment Team will then respond as follows:

  1. Representative to submit list of successful students to the International Representatives Team
  2. The International Representatives Team will check claims and return verified list to the Representative
  3. Representative to submit one single invoice to the International Representatives Team for payment

When Commission will not be paid

Commission will not be paid if there is evidence to suggest the Representative has not acted in the best interest of the student at all times.

Commission will not be paid for claims received after the commission claim deadline. Exceptions can be made for PhD students who commence studies within the same entry year, but after the September ‘start of teaching’ date.

Commission will not be paid on claims which are not submitted on the Commission Claims Template or on those which are only partially complete.

We do not offer 50/50 commission to two different agents for one student enrolment.

We will not double pay commission to two agents supporting applicants at different parts of the application journey.

What happens if a client changes agent?

Where an applicant has been referred to the University of Edinburgh by an agent (AGENT A), and wishes to change use to another agent (AGENT B), commission will be awarded to AGENT A.

Where there is significant evidence that AGENT A has breached their contractual terms in the referral of the applicant, or, if they did not provide an adequate service, commission will be awarded to AGENT B.

Such cases will be assessed on a case-by-case basis and should be referred via the agent transfer form:

Agent Transfer Form

If the applicant switches to AGENT B and they support with admission, accommodation or visa support, we will not pay partial commission to AGENT B, all commission will be paid to the initial referring AGENT A.

Contracts

Use of Sub-Agents

If you wish to use sub-agents, you will need to obtain written consent from the University of Edinburgh authorising you to do so and provide a list of all sub-agents in use.

Until authorisation is received, you should not share any applicants’ personal information with the sub-agent.

The University of Edinburgh will then conduct necessary checks and communicate if the sub-agent is approved.

Charging fees for services

Yes. You must ensure that you have provided the University of Edinburgh with a list of all services and their respective prices. If there are any changes to your fee structure then you must inform the University immediately.

Are there specific territories that I am able to conduct recruitment activity in?

Our contract clearly states the territories that you are permitted to engage in. Commission will not be paid where an agent is recruiting prospective students from outside of the stated territories.

Frequently Asked Questions

This article was published on